Sports notices: Columbia Ravens are looking for football coaches

Columbia Ravens Football, Inc. is seeking qualified, committed individuals to coach in its youth tackle football program, for players ages 5-14, for the spring 2012 indoor and fall 2012 outdoor seasons. Interested parties should contact the director of football at columbiaravens@gmail.com. For more information, go to http://www.columbiaravens.com.

Cheerleading

The Chapelgate Christian Academy Cheerleading Clinic will be held March 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at Chapelgate Christian Academy, 2600 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville. The clinic is open to girls in grades 1-8. Participants will be grouped by grade. Cost: $35 (includes T-shirt and pizza lunch). Space is limited; register early. Registration must be received by Feb. 20. Forms are available at http://www.chapelgateacademy.org. Call 410-489-4397.

Golf

The 22nd annual Howard County General Hospital Benefit Golf Classic will be held May 21 at Turf Valley Resort, in Ellicott City. Registration and a putting contest begin at 10:30 a.m. Call 410-740-7840.

The George E. Sonnefeld Foundation will award at least one $2,500 scholarship to an area high school senior golfer. Applications are available at school guidance offices or by calling 410-841-5670.

The First Tee of Howard County will be opening its winter 2012 sessions in February. The PLAYer session, for students ages 7 and older, will be taught in four-week increments. The PAR session (age 9 and older) is by invitation only and will be offered for eight weeks. There will also be a re-evaluation opportunity, by invitation only, for participants who have not passed their PAR/Birdie (age 11 and older) exams. Registration and additional information may be obtained from http://www.thefirstteehowardcounty.org or by emailing info@thefirstteehowardcounty.org. Winter session applications can be obtained and returned at Fairway Hills Golf Course, 5100 Columbia Road, Columbia, MD 21044. Call 410-730-1114. Spring and summer program applications will be available on the site.

Softball

HCYP girls fastpitch softball registration is underway. HCYP's recreational softball program welcomes all girls, ages 6-17. Practices begin in March and games will be played from early April to early June. Register online at http://www.hcyp.org or print out a registration form to mail in with a check.

Howard County Officials are looking for new umpires to join them this season. Training on rules, positioning and interpretations as they relate to ASA Softball, both slow and fast pitch, begins Feb. 9. Upon completion of the classes, we will give you the opportunity to work games in Howard County for both youth and adults. Email rweggan@cablespeed.com, jcalamari@comcast.net or R7a1m5@aol.com.

Lacrosse

Registration is underway for the Lions Pride Howard Boys Lacrosse Clinic scheduled for 11 a.m.-1 p.m., March 10 at Howard High School. Sign-in will begin at 10:30 near the tennis courts. All participants need a helmet, gloves, elbow pads, shoulder pads, mouth piece, cleats, stick and reversible jersey. The clinic is open to boys currently in grades 6-8 and is free to Howard County residents. Registration information is available at http://www.howardhighschool.net/index/Lacrosse_Boys.html.

Rugby

Practices have begun for the Hurricane Express Rugby Football Club. Players are needed for both the girls and boys teams. Experienced players and newcomers to rugby are all welcome. Register at http://www.howardcountymd.gov/rap. For more information email walshpa@verizon.net.

Baseball

The regular meeting of "Talkin' Baseball" will be held Feb. 11 at 9 a.m. at Brighton Gardens, 7110 Minstrel Way, Columbia. Sean Forman, the founder of the website "baseball-reference.com" will be the speaker. Call 410-740-1145.

AYRA Spring baseball registration is open. Register at http://www.ayra.com by Feb. 5 for an early-bird discount.

Tryouts for 10-U Sunday Only travel will be held Feb. 5 and 12 from 2:45-4 at Reaper's Den, 8919-5 McGaw Court, Columbia.

The Columbia Soccer Club is forming a new U-12/13 girls team. Interested girls should call 240-272-0891.

The Columbia Soccer Club's Storm Runners (U-16 girls) are looking for a defensive minded player to round out the roster. The Storm Runners play in the upper division of the Baltimore Beltway Soccer League. If interested in trying out, email stormrunners@hotmail.com.

Register by Feb. 17 for the Central Maryland Soccer Association. All games are played on Sunday afternoons with separate boys and girls divisions in single age groupings of 8-U through 17-U. Ages 7-12 compete 8v8. Register at http://www.cmassoccer.com or call 410-686-2212.

Basketball

HCYP is accepting applications for itsSpring Break All Star Basketball Camp for boys and girls, ages 5-14. The camps will be held April 2-6 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at River Hill High School. Information is available at http://www.hcyp.org or by calling 410-461-7694.

The Mid-Atlantic Invitational Basketball Tournament will be held March 23-25, in Westminster. There is single age competition for boys and girls teams for ages 9-14. Registration forms are available under Basketball at http://www.usamateursports.com. Call 410-363-8610.

Spring sports

The Burtonsville Athletic Association is registering for spring baseball, softball and lacrosse. Programs are available for players in kindergarten through 10th grade. Register in person at Burtonsville Giant from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Feb. 11 or online at http://www.burtonsvillesports.org.